Animals spray for a variety of reasons. Skunks spray an unpleasant liquid when they are threatened. Male cats use their spray to mark their territory.
But what about chinchillas?
Yes, spraying urine is a natural reaction for chinchillas. Both female and male chinchillas can spray. This is a natural reaction that often happens very suddenly.
Why do chinchillas spray? And should you try to prevent your pet chin from spraying?
Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers yet. In this post, we will discuss what causes them to spray and what you should do if your pet chinchilla sprays.
What Exactly is Chinchilla Spray?
When chinchillas spray, they are releasing a stream of urine from their bodies.
This may seem gross, but that is exactly the point. Chinchillas spray when they are stressed or threatened. They use this defense mechanism to protect themselves from an attack. So, as disgusting as it seems, this is a useful tool to keep predators away. (No one likes the idea of being sprayed with urine, so it is easy to see why this is a useful defense mechanism).
When a chinchilla feels threatened, they quickly stand up and face their predator. Then, they release a quick and steady stream of urine in the direction of the threat. Usually, this happens before the predator has time to move.
Occasionally, a chinchilla will stand in a “warning pose” to give the predator time to leave before they would be sprayed. Essentially, the chinchilla stands on their back legs and moves their pelvis in the direction of the threat, but they don’t release any urine. If you see your chin in this stance, back away and give them some space. This is their way to tell you they feel very threatened.
Why Do Chinchillas Spray?
As we mentioned above, chinchillas spray when they feel threatened or stressed. This is their way of telling you to leave them alone.
Pet chinchillas might spray if they are not used to their new owner yet. They need time to adjust and get comfortable with a new home. If you try to play with or pick up a chinchilla that you just adopted, they might see this as a threat. Give your chinchilla time to get used to you to avoid being sprayed.
Also, if you adopt an older chinchilla, they might be prone to spraying if they were mistreated by a previous owner. Just remember that you chin needs time to warm up to you before they will be comfortable and not see you as a threat.
Male vs Female Chinchillas
Both male and female chinchillas are capable of spraying. This is a natural defense tool used by both sexes.
Female chinchillas spray more often than male chinchillas. They are also more accurate than males. Males can spray but their urine usually doesn’t reach as far as the females.
So, if you are concerned about spraying, you might want to consider adopting a male chinchilla. Yes, they still spray but not nearly as often as female chinchillas.
What to Do if a Chinchilla Sprays
Even if you try to create a calm environment for your chin, it is possible that you will still experience your pet chinchilla spraying. Try not to take this personally. This is a natural reaction that occurs when they feel threatened. And a newly adopted chinchilla is more prone to feeling threatened, so they are also more likely to spray.
If your chin sprays, take a moment to reflect on the situation. What were you doing before they sprayed? If you did something (accidentally or otherwise) to cause the spray, keep this in mind and don’t repeat that action in the future.
You might not have done anything to cause the spray. Maybe you were just trying to get to know your new pet. Just remember, newly adopted chinchillas need some time to adjust to their new living situation. During this process, they might be easily stressed. Give your chinchilla some time to get used to you. Over time, your chinchilla should start to trust you and be less interested in spraying you.
Final Thoughts
Unlike cats who spray to mark their territory, both male and female chinchillas spray when they are threatened.
Luckily, the smell of their spray doesn’t linger as long as a skunk’s defensive spray.
Chinchillas only spray when they are threatened or stressed. Be patient with newly adopted chinchillas and always keep your pet away from any household predators (like dogs or cats).
Have you ever seen a male chinchilla spray? Although they don’t spray as often as females, they still use this tactic when they are threatened. If you have a story to share about a male chinchilla using this defense method, please leave it in the comments below.